Global InformationZicam information
| Type | homeopathic remedy |
|---|---|
| Inventor | Charles B. Hensley and Robert Steven Davidson |
| Inception | 1990s |
| Manufacturer | Zicam, LLC |
| Current supplier | Zicam, LLC |
| Website | http://www.zicam.com/ |
Zicam is a branded series of products marketed for cold and allergy relief whose original formulations included the element zinc. The Zicam name is derived from a portmanteau of the words "zinc" and "ICAM-1" (the receptor to which a rhinovirus binds in order to infect cells).[1] It is labelled as an "unapproved homeopathic" product[2] and as such has no evidence of effectiveness.[3][4]
Zicam was invented and developed by Charles B. Hensley and Robert Steven Davidson in the mid 1990s, working on the ICAM-1 synthesis success of the Hafdua Laboratory in Haifa, Israel, under the direction of Mich Segal and Avram Satz, and is produced, marketed and sold by Zicam, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Matrixx Initiatives, Inc.,[5][6] an American company. In 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Health Canada advised consumers to avoid intranasal versions of Zicam Cold Remedy because of a risk of damage to the sense of smell,[7] leading the manufacturer to withdraw these versions from the U.S. market.[citation needed] However, in recent years, they have returned to market with both nasal swabs and also dissolving/chewable tablets and nasal spray and oral mist forms, some with zinc, some without.
- ^ Our Story
- ^ Zicam: Label data, National Institutes of Health
- ^ Salzberg, Steven. "The Top Five Cold Remedies That Do Not Work". Forbes. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
- ^ "Cold-Shortening Products: Are They Worth It?". Reviews.com. February 26, 2019. Retrieved November 21, 2019.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Matrixx Corporate Page". Archived from the original on August 28, 2010. Retrieved April 30, 2009.
- ^ Gorman, Christine (November 15, 1999). "Block That Cold!". Time. Archived from the original on June 22, 2009.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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